- Ankalamma
Goddess Ankalamma, or Angalamma, is also known as Ankamma or Angamma, Ankali, Angali, Ankala Parameswari and Angala Parameswari. She is worshipped with these names in
Andhra Pradesh ,Karnataka andTamil Nadu .Ankalamma is counted as one of the
Matrikas or "Seven Mothers". [H. Krishna Sastri, "South Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses" pages 223-224] She is also considered to be a form of goddess Ankali orKali . In order to incorporate her worship intoVedic Hinduism, Ankamma is labeled as the mother of theTrimurti s, the Hindu male trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. However, Ankalamma is a non-Vedic deity and, like so many Tamil popular deities, she seems to have originated in a fierce guardian figure. Hindu scholars like H, Krishna Sastri say that "it is difficult to explain the origin of her name", but he affirms that the sacred areas of Ankalamma and similar village goddesses are much dreaded by the locals. In the rituals dedicated to her she is appeased with blood.Ankalamma's shrines are usually located outside of the village in groves of trees. They are usually not proper temples, but very simple stone structures.
Ankala could be Pardhis Kalanka
Pardhis of North India worship Goddess Kalanka. The Koravas, Erukalas, Bedaras, Valmikis, Mudiraj, Kapus and even cholas who had their origins in Bhil-Pardhis, worship this Kalanka in the name of Ankala. Ankamma is a gradual modification of the name Kalanka.
Kala = Black
Aank = Anka = Eye
Kalanka = Goddes with Black Eyes
Kalanka => Kala + Anka => Anka + Kala => Ankala
Kalanka => Ankala => Ankalamma => Ankamma
Ankamma Kolupu ritual
The main characteristic of the ritual called Ankamma Kolupu is that a midnight worship (
puja } is performed by making a colorfulRangoli with wheat flour,turmeric powder,kumkum , black charcoal powder, etc. During the worship singers recite ballads based on local stories about warrior ancestors (Veeran).The climax comes at the end of the ritual, when the devotees sacrifice a goat and its blood is spilled in order to appease the goddess. Other rituals like the Devara Kolupu or Veerla Kolupu are normally performed on some special occasions by individuals or by the community as a whole.ee also
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Matrikas (Saptamatrkas)
*Sitala
*Isakki
*Sudalai Madan References
* H. Krishna Sastri, "South Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses".
* W.T. Elmore, "Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism."
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